A Westfield, Indiana man has been sentenced to 38 years in federal prison for his involvement in child sex trafficking and possession of child sex abuse materials.
Erik Hanson, 31, was found guilty of sexual exploitation of a child, conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child, and transportation of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Hanson used the Kik communications application to solicit sex with a 14-year-old girl, whom he believed to be his ‘favorite age’ for sex. He asked the girl for explicit photos and sent her images of his penis, and attempted to meet with her for sex at a hotel in Tennessee.
Hanson also admitted to owning two Kik accounts for the purpose of viewing child sexual abuse material and belonging to online groups that traded these images. He used CashApp to pay another individual $75 to produce child sex abuse material involving an 11-year-old girl, which he directed and distributed to another individual.
The investigation was led by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Hamilton County Metropolitan Child Exploitation Task Force, and the Westfield Police Department. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers praised the work of the investigators in bringing Hanson to justice.
Hanson must also pay $30,000 in restitution to his victims and will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Defendant: Erik Hanson
Criminal Charges: Sexual exploitation of a child, conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child, and transportation of child sexual abuse material
City and State: Westfield, Indiana
Date: April 22, 2022
Sentence: 38 years in federal prison
Restitution: $30,000
Related Federal Cases
- Ashley Renea Hilligoss, Child Sex Abuse Image Production, Florida 2024 · Alabama
- James Allen Randall, Receiving and Accessing Child Sex Abuse Materials, Florida 2023 · Alabama
- Jeffrey Holcombe, Child Sex Abuse Images, Florida 2023 · Alabama
- Dennis William Sheffield, Jr., Receipt of Child Sex Abuse Images, Florida 2023 · Alabama
- Rory Shelton, Possession of Child Pornography, Pennsylvania 2024 · Tennessee
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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